London’s The Mess:Age, fronted by the visionary singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Glen Brandon “Ziggy,” return with a release that feels both timeless and urgently relevant. Their new single “SACRIFICE,” emerges as a stirring blend of alternative rock, indie pop, and soft rock, steeped in spirituality yet grounded in the grit of lived experience.
“SACRIFICE” casts a spell, threading mystery through melody and conviction through lyricism. Written during the lockdown, the track channels isolation’s raw weight into something transcendent. Instead of yielding to despair, Ziggy transforms solitude into sound, weaving themes of faith, truth, and resilience into a haunting narrative. “Holy, holy… you are the children of the dawn,” he sings, setting the stage for a song that moves like a prayer but roars with rock’s urgency.
The chorus, anchored in the call to “raise your hands to the air,” turns into a rallying cry for awakening, underscored by shimmering guitar lines and atmospheric production. It’s not a recycled echo of Christian pop or a mainstream rock formula; it’s something distinctively The Mess:Age: bold, spiritual, defiant, and deeply human.
Part of what makes “SACRIFICE” so compelling is its origin story. Recorded at Phoenix Production Studios in London, the song carries the imprint of Ziggy’s decades-long craft; shaped by collaborations with icons like Bowie and Duran Duran, yet never imitative of them. Instead, his artistry draws inspiration from what he calls the “god source,” channeling creativity not as mimicry but as revelation. The result is a sound that feels both familiar and otherworldly, a bridge between rock’s legacy and an awakened generation’s voice.
The track is also a taste of what’s ahead. With multiple albums in the works: Make the Peace, Age of Mess, Speed of Light, and Alignment. The Mess:Age is sculpting a body of work that seeks not just to entertain but to enlighten. Sync placement opportunities and whispers of Hollywood collaborations only hint at the wider horizon awaiting Ziggy and his bandmates, Paul Gold (bass) and Jaime Page (guitar).
At its heart, “SACRIFICE” is a statement of faith and defiance, a reminder that words can wound but also heal, that music can still carve meaning out of chaos. As Ziggy himself proclaims: “Spread the word, spread the Mess:Age, always spread the love… the truth will set you free.”
.. and in “SACRIFICE,” truth sounds both thunderous and eternal!
